The MTV Europe Music Awards ("EMAs" or "EMA") are an event presented by MTV Networks Europe which awards prizes to musicians and performers. The first EMAs ceremony was held in 1994 in Berlin, Germany.[1] Originally conceived as an alternative to the MTV Video Music Awards and since 2011 other worldwide, regional nominations have been added. At the moment, within the main categories, however, the winners have often been American artists (the presenters too). The MTV Europe Music Awards are held every year in a different country. It has been hosted five times in Germany and in the United Kingdom.

The awards are presented annually and broadcast live on MTV Europe, MTV Live HD and most of the international MTV channels as well as online.

1996: During their performance Metallica performed the songs "Last Caress" and "So What?" instead of performing their single "King Nothing" as scheduled. The MTV executives told the band that they weren't allowed to use any curse words during their time on live TV, and upset with the scripted, family-friendly MTV antics, Metallica simply played non-TV friendly songs. The song "So What?" is known for its amount of expletives and references to bestiality among many other controversial lyrics while "Last Caress" has lyrics pertaining to murder and rape. As a result of their performance Metallica's performance and references to Metallica have been removed from future broadcasts of the ceremony.[26][27]

1997: U2 opened the show performing "Mofo" dressed in boxing gowns.[28]The Prodigy was the bigger winner of the night with three awards.

1998: On this year 6 new categories were introduced including the MTV Selects; UK and Ireland, Northern, Central and Southern. Faithless opened the show with "God is a DJ" and Madonna performed "The Power of Goodbye". The big winner of the night were the Spice Girls and Madonna with two awards. Mel C, alias Sporty Spice, and Emma Bunton, known as Baby Spice, collected the trophy on behalf of the group. On receiving the award, Mel C shouted: "We've done it again". "And a big hello from the other two," she added, referring to Mel B and Victoria Adams, both of whom were pregnant and did not attend the ceremony at the Fila Forum in Milan, Italy. The Prodigy won the Best Dance award but according to their frontman, Liam Howlett, they had not done anything to deserve the award this year.

The Free Your Mind award, given to organisations helping with human rights, was given to Serbian radio station, Radio B92, in Belgrade.

1999: Britney Spears was the big winner of the night winning four awards (Best Female, Best Pop, Best New Act, and Best Song for "...Baby One More Time"). She also performed during the ceremony, entertaining the crowd with a medley of her hits "...Baby One More Time" and "(You Drive Me) Crazy".

2000: The show was hosted by Fugees's Wyclef Jean, who presented a variety of stars and outfits, including one consisting of boxer shorts only, after he jumped into the crowd and had his red leather suit ripped from him.

Robbie Williams won the award for Best Song for "Rock DJ", but he told the audience: "I am not going to say anything bad about people's choices on this one, but I think it's a terrible song and a silly song." He also referred to his roots in Stoke-on-Trent, saying: "When I was growing up I dreamt of being a pop star and I would like to thank MTV for my three houses, my five cars and my supermodel girlfriend."

2002: One of the highlights was the offer made by host P. Diddy giving away a lush ring to the first woman to undress on stage, a lady took the stage take off her clothes and won the ring. When Moby came on stage to collect the award for Best Website he wished the best wishes to Eminem, showing that he bore no grudge after the confrontation on the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards.

2003: During the pre-show, Christina Aguilera refused to walk the red carpet if Kelly Osbourne — a guest VJ for the event — was present. Kelly responded by calling Aguilera's music "crap" and saying she was a "cow." Later, a skit was aired of Christina Aguilera throwing darts at a board decorated with a picture of Kelly Osbourne. This irked the Ozzy offspring, who voiced her disapproval when she came onstage to present an award. "If Christina Aguilera has to resort to throwing darts at my head after everything she's achieved and everything she's done, then she's a really sad, sorry person" Kelly said. "And I take it as a complete compliment." "Honey, if you can dish it out, you've got to learn how to take it back" Christina Aguilera later retorted with a voice of mock sympathy.[35]

During Travis performance of "The Beautiful Occupation" an assembly of nude protesters marched onstage with signs that covered their naughty bits. At the end of the song, they lifted the signs.[36]

2005 : Madonna opened the show in a giant disco ball performing "Hung Up". Borat greeted the audience by saying: "Welcome to the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest" and referring to Madonna, he said: "It was very courageous of MTV to start the show with a genuine transvestite". Gorillaz used hologram-style technology to beam three-dimensional performing cartoon characters on stage.[37] Madonna returned to the stage to present MTV's Free Your Mind humanitarian award to Live 8s organiser Bob Geldof. "You drive me crazy, but tonight you are everyone's hero," she said. He replied: "This means much more to me than many of the other things that are given to me". It was also the first time a Latin artist perform, Shakira with her hit single "Don't Bother".

2006: The 13th annual MTV Europe Music Awards was hosted by Justin Timberlake who won Best Male and Best Pop and joked that he only won because he agreed to present the event in Copenhagen. Depeche Mode, founded in the UK in 1980, said: "A big thank you to the fans and a big thank you to MTV for playing our videos for 25 years" after winning the award for Best Group.

Despite winning the award for Best Hip-Hop, Kanye West apparently was so disappointed at not winning for Best Video that he crashed the stage when the award was being presented to Justice vs. Simian for "We Are Your Friends". In a tirade riddled with expletives, Kanye West said he should have won the prize for his video "Touch the Sky", because it "cost a million dollars, Pamela Anderson was in it. I was jumping across canyons." "If I don't win, the awards show loses credibility", West said.

2008: Rick Astley was named Best Act Ever after an online campaign to orchestrate votes and Paul McCartney was awarded with the Ultimate Legend given by Bono and said: "These MTV awards are great and glamorous occasions, but on behalf of all the artists in this room, I will tell you something," he said. "I think we all suspect someday when all of us are gone and this great hall is no longer here, we sense, we fear our names will be forgotten. There is one person in this hall tonight whose songs we know will be here now and forever. There is one person in this hall tonight whose work is immortal. There is only one Paul McCartney."

After picking up his honour, Sir Paul said bashfully: "I don't know what to do after an introduction like that." The star settled for thanking friends, family and "my mates Ringo, George and John". "Many years ago, four little boys were born here in Liverpool and we went on to do quite well," he added. "So thanks, as I say, to all my family, to all of you for coming along, everyone in Liverpool, everyone in Britain, everyone in America — for voting in Mr Obama. I love you!"

Britney Spears was the winner of the night winning Album Of The Year and Best Act. She was not there in the show but she recorded a couple videos thanking her European fans.

The US singer was a high-spirited presenter, and managed 12 costumes changes during the show. She opened proceedings by straddling a gigantic cherry chapstick — a reference to the lyrics of her number one hit "I Kissed a Girl". The singer also picked up the Best New Act prize during the show.[39]

2009: Katy Perry Opened the show and performed a medley of the nominees for Best Song. The Jonas Brothers introduced a tribute to Michael Jackson performed by Michael's fans in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany. Nick Jonas was the one who opened the band's tribute speech. He said, "This year we saw the loss of the greatest pop musician the world has ever seen. We and MTV wanted to pay tribute to the true king of pop, Michael Jackson. His unrivalled talent has shaped the musical landscape, influencing artists old and young."

Joe Jonas continued, "The first time we heard Michael's voice was when our dad played the Jackson 5's "I'll Be There". We were amazed by the one-of-a-kind talent. The way that he and his brothers came together to entertain the world has been an obvious influence on us."

The oldest member of the band, Kevin Jonas, then took over. "Michael Jackson influenced every listener and every future performer with a talent the world had never seen before. As a writer, as a singer, as a dancer and as a performer he was the best," he stated.

The event was hosted by Eva Longoria — who had 13 outfit changes, one of which was shaped like a huge Spanish ham — she introduced the crowd to a gang of hunks, pretending they were family. The actress joked, "I recently did some research into my ancestry and it turns out I'm 70 percent Spanish! I tracked down some of my relatives in Madrid (and) I promised that I'd bring them out on stage. A big welcome to the Longorias!".

The awards are a reflection of the international and continental music scene. They are representative of geographical origin and of achievement in diverse musical genres and disciplines, indicative of the diversity and scope of these awards. Awards are amended, repealed and conceived to reflect the change of the music scene and its integral participation in social, cultural and economic circles.